This document defines various automotive crash and safety terms and concepts. It discusses vehicle classifications, weight classifications, crashworthiness requirements, and injury reference points like H-point and R-point. It also covers topics like vehicle coordinate systems, deformable crash structures, restraint systems, and anthropometric test devices that represent human characteristics and percentiles.
7. • Truck
Vehicles with motive power, except a trailer, designed primarily for the transportation of property or special-
purpose equipment
• Light Truck
• Classification of self-propelled vehicles which are designed primarily to transport property or special- purpose equipment, and
have a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4536 kg or less
• Heavy Truck
Classification of self-propelled vehicles which are designed primarily to transport property or special purpose equipment, and
have a gross vehicle weight rating over 4536 kg
Heavy Truck—Classification of self-propelled vehicles which are designed primarily to transport property or special purpose
Two distinct vehicle groupings are derived according to driver seating arrangement dimensions
- Class A Vehicles
- Class B Vehicles
8. EEC VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION
Vehicle Category Vehicle Purpose Seat Mass (Tonn)
Category M:
Motor vehicles with at
least four wheels
designed and constructed
for the carriage of
passengers
M1 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of passengers
no more than eight seats in
addition to the driver's seat.
M2 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of passengers
comprising more than eight seats
in addition to the driver's seat
Maximum mass not
exceeding 5 tonnes
M3 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of passengers
comprising more than eight seats
in addition to the driver's seat
Maximum mass
exceeding 5 tonnes
Category N:
Motor vehicles with at
least four wheels
designed and constructed
for the carriage of goods
N1 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of goods
Maximum mass not
exceeding 3,5 tonnes
N2 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of goods
Maximum mass
exceeding 3,5 tonnes but
not exceeding 12 tonnes
N3 Designed and constructed for the
carriage of goods
Maximum mass
exceeding 12 tonnes
9. Vehicle Category Purpose Seat Mass (Tonn)
Category O
Trailers (including semi-
trailers)
O1 Trailers Maximum mass not exceeding 0.75 tonnes
O2 Trailers Maximum mass exceeding 0,75 tonnes but not
exceeding 3.5 tonnes
O3 Trailers Maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not
exceeding 10 tonnes
O4: Trailers Maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes
• Category M: vehicles carrying passengers
• Category N: vehicles carrying goods
• Category L: vehicles with less than four wheels
• Category T: agricultural and forestry tractors and their trailers
10. FMVSS VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION
Classification Definition
Passenger car A motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle, multipurpose passenger vehicle,
motorcycle, or trailer, designed for carrying 10 persons or less
Multipurpose passenger vehicle A motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle or trailer, designed to carry 10 persons
or less which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road
operation
Truck A motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed primarily for the transportation of
property or special purpose equipment
Bus A motor vehicle with motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying more than 10 persons
Motorcycle A motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel
on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground
Motor driven cycle A motorcycle with a motor that produces 5 brake horsepower or less
Trailer A motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being
drawn by another motor vehicle
Low-speed vehicle A motor vehicle, that is 4-wheeled, whose speed attainable in 1 mile (1.6 km) is more than 20 miles per
hour (32 kilometers per hour) and not more than 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) on a paved
level surface, and whose GVWR is less than 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms)
Source: New Manufacturers Handbook - Requirements for Manufacturers of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations
14. H POINT & R POINT
• H-point (Hip point) is the theoretical, relative location of an occupant's hip, specifically the pivot point between
the torso and upper leg portions of the body, either relative to the floor of the vehicle or relative to the height
above pavement level. Technically, the measurement uses the hip joint of a 50th percentile male occupant,
viewed laterally.
• R-point (Seating Reference Point) is the theoretical hip point used by manufacturers when designing a vehicle and
more specifically describes the relative location of the seated dummy's hip point, when the seat is set in the
rearmost and lowermost seatingposition.